How children become courageous: 5 examples from everyday life

1. be a positive role model in dealing with emotions

35-year-old Sabine sits thoughtfully at the kitchen table. Her ten-year-old daughter asks: «What's wrong, Mum?» Sabine explains that she is nervous because she has to give a presentation to her colleagues the next day. «I have a queasy feeling.» Then Sabine has an idea. «Can I give you the presentation once to practise a bit?» «Sure, mum.» After two runs, Sabine tells her daughter with relief: «I feel much more confident now. I'll definitely be able to do it tomorrow.»

It wasn't that bad, maybe I'll stroke the dog next time.

2. finding the balance between challenging and protecting

Noah is afraid of dogs. When he goes shopping with his dad, Kaya, their neighbour's dog, suddenly stands in front of him. He wants to get out of the way, but his dad holds him back. «Come on, we'll manage and walk past together,» he says. The dog's owner sees Noah and asks: «Do you want to stroke her?» He shakes his head.

The father realises how anxious his son is. He says: «You don't have to stroke her if you find it difficult, but maybe you dare to let her sniff your hand?» Noah realises how sweet and affectionate the dog is. He slowly stretches out his hand and lets her sniff it. As they walk on, he says to his dad: «It wasn't that bad, maybe I'll stroke her next time.»

3. face challenges and develop risk awareness

Leni is seven years old and always goes dancing on Thursdays. Together with her friend, they walk to the studio, which is about ten minutes away. When Leni finds out that her friend isn't coming today because she has a doctor's appointment, she asks: «Dad, can I go on my own today?» He hesitates briefly, but then says yes. «Take care on the big road, okay?» he calls after her. An hour later, Leni proudly comes home. It was the first time she had ever walked alone.

Don't run after her all the time. That way she'll never learn to fall properly.

4. establish a culture of trust in the family and give children freedom

Elias and Luca's parents thought about how they could give their boys more freedom. They have decided: After school, they have to do their homework and other chores such as tidying their rooms, after which they are allowed to move freely around the neighbourhood with their friends without constantly giving an update on where they are. But they have to be back on time for dinner.

5 Becoming aware of risks and avoiding overprotection

One-year-old Mia is just learning to walk. For 30-year-old Julia, it's her first child. She follows her daughter wherever she goes. Every time she loses her balance, she catches her so that she doesn't fall. When Mia's dad observes this, he says: «Don't keep following her. She'll never learn to fall properly that way.» Julia replies: «But I don't want her to hurt herself.» Her husband then says: «There are no serious dangers here. She'd rather fall a few times here than on the street, wouldn't she?»